You know what makes me happy?
YOU GUYS! Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for all the love I got on my recent update. I want to emphasize the fact that I am not unhappy by any means, and I’m working on eating more in order to raise my blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Funny, because most people have the opposite problem!
My friend helped me create a meal plan and macros, and we found out that I wasn’t eating enough carbohydrates to fuel the heavy exercise I do on a daily basis. So, more carbs! I tell ya, it’s hard to get in enough calories when you eat healthy 99% of the time. How many pounds of broccoli do I have to eat again? lol *sigh*
Meal Plan
So, my goal is to eat 2,000+ calories per day and I’m slowly working my way up there (I’m at around 1,600 right now after figuring out this new meal plan). Yes, I’m sure it’s every girl’s dream to be told to eat more… but this is hard for someone who, in the past, was scared of eating anything “bad.” I’m trying to fuel my body with healthy foods, so I’ve pretty much just increased my portions. My day-to-day meals look something like this:
(Note: I’m only doing this to showcase the importance of fueling your body for hard workouts. We train hard in the gym, so our bodies NEED fuel before and after to enhance performance. I see so many girls, myself included, not eating enough to fuel their bodies and wonder why they feel lightheaded/spacey or are losing strength. This is exactly what happened to me, and I’m learning to overcome my fear of eating a lot!)
Breakfast:
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1 egg, 1/2 cup whites (from carton) + veggies (usually mushrooms, broccoli, green beans, onions, tomato)
Snack:
- 3 hard boiled egg whites
- 2 rice cakes
Lunch:
- 5-6 oz. lean meat (turkey, chicken, etc.)
- sweet potato
- 1/2 cup black beans
- veggies (usually broccoli and cauliflower or green beans)
Snack (pre-workout):
- 2-3 hard boiled egg whites
- carrots
- oatmeal or rice cake with almond butter
Dinner (post-workout):
- 6 oz. lean meat
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- veggies
After dinner snack: usually I just go to bed, but if I’m hungry I’ll eat a “fat” — aka peanut butter or almond butter on a rice cake, or by the spoonful because YUM.
So to some of you, this may seem like A LOT. To others, it may seem like not enough. I’m learning to trust my body — eat when I’m hungry, stop when I’m full. If I feel lightheaded, instead of trying to push through it, I will stop what I’m doing and EAT SOMETHING. I was so scared of eating a lot before, which is ultimately what led to my bingeing. I’d go for 3-4 days at 900 calories and then literally eat all.the.pretzels. I swear to you, the binges are the only thing that saved me.
By eating more consistently on a daily basis, I hope to resolve my issues with overeating. Let’s face it, we’re not going to get fat by eating healthy. I understand the whole calories in/calories out theory, but realistically it’s impossible to eat too much broccoli. No one ever got fat eating broccoli, brown rice, or healthy foods unless you’re eating 10x what you actually need (which is quite impossible with those foods. Not so much pizza lol)
Chances are if you’re reading this, you have an interest in health and fitness. You can’t have one without the other — I promise you. EAT ENOUGH for YOUR body and you will see astounding results both in and out of the gym.
In the past three days since I’ve been eating more, I’ve noticed such a difference in the gym and more importantly in my health.
Don’t be afraid to eat. Fuel your body and your mind. Nourish and feed every aspect of your life daily (mind, body, soul) and your body will thank you. ❤
Health Nut Julie 